Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly. We chose the bone marrow, lamb shank and short rib. The bone marrow was the best we've ever had. We ended with "Hannah's" bananas foster and it was sinful! My dad was having trouble with a wound he got earlier in the day and the team came to the rescue with their first aid kit so we didn't have to leave the dinner we were looking forward to. Above and beyond! read more

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Dropped by with a friend this past Thursday. Service was great, Hannah was super friendly and attentive, and provided us with good suggestions. My friend didn't really enjoy her lychee martini as it was too strong. I had an espresso martini (the alpha) made virgin and it was alright. The food was good, not great. The flatbread appeared burnt, didn't really have much depth to it. However, the frites were good. Short rib was good and I enjoyed the salmon as well. They do offer kamaaina discounts on Wednesdays so we might return then but otherwise for the price point probably not. Side note, if you're easily bitten by mosquitoes, come prepared! We got bit even sitting indoors (but we're mosquito magnets). It's open air indoors so it can get a little warm inside as well. read more

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I wanted to share my experience at The Theatery Restaurant at Puna Chocolate because, unfortunately, the customer service left us very disappointed. We had a reservation for 12:00, but still had to wait. From the beginning, we felt there was a noticeable difference in how customers who booked a tour were treated compared with customers who were there just for brunch. The tour guests seemed to receive more attention and hospitality, while our experience felt like we were overlooked. When we arrived, the waitress immediately told us there was no high chair available for our toddler. We were then seated in an area with a frame that appeared to be coming loose and potentially falling. I found this concerning and unsafe, especially with a toddler sitting there, with or without a high chair. The waitress was also not very attentive. We specifically asked for the chocolate to be served on the side, but instead it was poured directly onto the chicken. My spouse and I ended up having to switch meals just so we could comfortably eat lunch with our toddler. We also asked if we could move because of the safety concern, but the overall response made us feel as though our requests were an inconvenience. What disappointed me most was the feeling that we felt we are not local residents in HI, and regardless of whether someone is visiting for a tour or simply coming in for brunch, every customer should feel equally welcomed and valued. The food itself was not the main issue. The issue was the customer service and the feeling that we were treated differently. This is a beautiful place, and I hope management takes this feedback seriously and provides additional hospitality training to ensure all guests--whether tour guests or brunch customers--receive the same welcoming experience and attention. read more

If you're looking for a true farm-to-table experience, this is a great stop. The menu highlights fresh, local ingredients, and every dish feels thoughtfully prepared. The craft cocktails are equally impressive--creative, balanced, and made with plenty of aloha. Great flavors, warm hospitality, and a relaxed island atmosphere made this a place I'd happily return to. read more

Eating at the Theatery was truly an experience. At first we were getting antsy, thinking why our food was taking so long, no one had checked on us but as we drove home after dinner we realized that we've become so accustomed to swallowing food at a restauraunt and running out, hour max. Dinner at the Theatery was such a wonderful experience, it starts when you walk into the restauraunt and are greeted by the gorgeous Hawaiian sky, an indoor outdoor experience. The decor, ambiance, music, seating arrangements, lighting, it feels intentional, intimate and classy. We ordered appetizers - focaccia and grilled flatbread. Focaccia 10/10 - crunchy, yet soft, grilled flavor and the butter. Mmmmmmmm yum. Grilled flatbread 5/10 - not what I expected... Lychee martini 10/10 - classy, tropical, sweet but not too sweet ;-) I ordered the glazed lamb shank - the flavor was beautiful, the meat was juicey, soft and fell off the bone, paired with coconut rice and coconut curry. It was an amazing mixture of different flavors that worked so well together. I think we also got the Kanpachi - it was good but the lamb was our favorite. Finished off the evening with the dessert show with the banana foster - it was way too sweet for me but the show was very entertaining to watch :-). Our favorite dessert was the lilikoi crème Brûlée. (Not pictured). Perfect balance between sweet and savory. Crunchy yet creamy. So delicious!! We loved our experience at the theatery - dining felt like an experience, indulging in the art of eating and enjoying conversation with your dining partner. Will go again. read more

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We showed up 35 minutes late because of a late flight arrival, so our table wasn't ready. But we were greeted warmly and given bubbly as we waited even though it was our fault! A little sad flights meant we had a late booking because I think there's a view if you come earlier. As it was, a cute ambience with open air and servers in festive garb on Christmas Eve. Because we were exhausted and it was 3 am our time, we didn't go for the Christmas 4 course pre-fixe, and the regular menu was quite limited because of Christmas, so we ordered everything that looked good. Crazy that the focaccia with miso spread might have been my favorite? Or the bearnaise sauce that came with fingerling frites? But kids raved about bone marrow, lamb shank and dosa (not at all a typical Indian dosa but delicious nevertheless). Too tired to stay for dessert, but a great and friendly start to our vacation! read more

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This was the seventh time we visited this place. Only special occasion we come here. This time, we had sad experiences. My husband birthday he got food poison. He was stuck in the bathroom lest of his birthday.. I was feeling not good so we left without dessert. Also, kanpachi and Pasta were way too salty. Kanpachi did not smell good. I told the server, and he said, " Okey, I will tell to chef," but after he didn't say anything. The restaurant was not busy, but the server was totally forgotten about us. No drink long time.. Also, my favorite ahi tartar was no flaver. read more

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Enthusiastic and efficient service from Hannah. Since they are next door to the theater they make a habit of checking to see if patrons are trying to make it to the 7:30 show. The chef is French trained and the food quality demonstrates that. Everything was delicious and perfectly cooked. Sunset view on the outdoor dining area is lovely. Very comfortable and welcoming place with great food. I recommend adding this to your dinner options if you are staying near captain cook or south end of kona read more

The Theatery - Beet salad - no beets but pretty Beet schmeer on the plate. Delicious salad. Fresh. Flavorful. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

We planned a dinner on our last day here and it did not disappoint. A few miles from Kona but the food is amazing and price point is high but felt similar to most of the island. Paige was our hostess and was really sweet. We loved everything we tried on the menu and they do have decent vegetarian options. Would be great if they add more vegan/vegetarian options though. Ambience is lovely and I'm sure the view before sunset is beautiful too but we missed that as we arrived post sundown. read more

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Great Thanksgiving meal. Friendly staff. Cute inside and out. I haven't been during a normal, but totally looking forward to coming another time and trying regular menu items. read more

The Theatery - Mango Soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

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Yes, Theatery has a spectacular view and beautiful decor. But it is the food that makes this a must go to place for a special dining experience. We had the pounded ahi and snow crab salad to start. Both were exceptional. In fact I would go out of my way for the ahi. We followed the apps with perfectly prepared beef tenderloin and lamb shank with banana foster for dessert. Everything was delicious and reasonably priced. The icing on the cake was the attentive service from Paige. She was friendly, informative but did not hover. We look forward to going back. read more

The Theatery - Table side flambé bananas Foster - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

A celebratory dinner on the lanai overlooking the ocean sunset could very well be the perfect venue for 2 families joining together in celebration of our kid's wedding. The venue...perfect. The service....exceptional. And Chef Woodman's creations were memorable. Apps included the pounded Ahi, bone marrow, and Kung Pao salad. Entrees of the lamb shank and the Kanpachi were devoured with barely a morsel remaining on our plates. I chose the Short Rib, paired with a Bordeaux blend off the well developed wine list, that literally melted in my mouth. I counted 9 empty plates when we were done. Chef even popped out to the table to congratulate the newlyweds. Do not hesitate dining at The Theatery next time on the Big Island. Yes...it is that good. read more

The Theatery - Braised short rib with tomato tamarind braise, pickled papaya, and leeks pomme puree. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

Fun cocktails Loved the pork with poi with just de viande viand Kampachi was yum... gnocchi was sweeter than I expected Pineapple cake tasted more like carrot cake was yummy with lots of mac nuts and kinda honey...? And lived the cardamon ice cream. read more

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Our favorite Hawaiian restaurant hands down. We visited this place 3 times during the holidays. The chefs tasting menus are beyond fabulous. We are looking forward to our next visit not only to the island but to this restaurant. read more

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Vegan suggestions from an email Sure, the beet salad (without goat cheese), mushroom soup, or focaccia bread for starters. The Tofu dish, without buttered phyllo dough crust. Vegan ice cream. Lots of interesting choices. Beet salad was a hit. Pork dish very good. Kimberly waitress very good. Knowledgeable, upbeat, provided suggestions. Only snafu was late entree for third person got lost!! We started eating and made a dent before it arrived Good food, some dishes worked better than others. Loved the mushroom soup but not a fan of the pineapple included. Nice to have fine dining close to where I stayed. Desserts and cocktails where also a home run. Good luck to keep it going. read more

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We had such a wonderful brunch at Theatery! Alexa was our server, and she was absolutely amazing super attentive, positive, and incredibly helpful. She gave us such great service and the food was fantastic. We will definitely be back! Highly recommend the brunch and Theatery. read more

My wife and I went with two other couples and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were dining a bit later than usual, arriving at 7:15, and on a Thursday it was not busy. One couple was late and the staff was great about that, and we proceeded to order around a half hour later. We enjoyed different meals and they were all excellent. Many other reviews have covered them in detail, so I'll skip that. The chef/owner has done a great job here. He could be seen coming out on occasion, and the staff was attentive. He has an impressive background and it was interesting reading about his journey. Our server David let us alone but was always there. I think that the crew did a great job and we were left to catch up with our friends with good food and conversation. One of our friends grew up in France and he was blown away by the flavors of his salmon. My short ribs were perfect, and the steak looked delicious. We ended with two wonderful desserts and left the place completely satisfied. David made it easy to split the bill for three couples, and the 20% gratuity for a table of six was totally deserved. We're lucky to have a place like this on the island. We all agreed that this was a unique place and perfect for a special occasion. I forgot to inquire about corkage fees as I found the wine list lacking, having grown up in Northern California I'm biased towards Sonoma reds. My wife and I look forward to returning and trying out some more of their excellent food soon. Mahalo. read more

The Theatery - We sat and watched the sunset as we waited for our friends. Beautifully decorated and the ambiance was perfect. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

Just love this place. So unexpected, beautifully artistic design and absolutely delicious. Best mixed drinks on the island..steak perfection...as if we're in a Chicago bistro but viewing the Pacific Ocean .. Right next to the aloha theater.. so amazing and zen read more

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Not great service and food is nothing special. The space is nice but staff needs more attention to detail

We had an absolutely incredible dinner at The Theatery while celebrating a birthday on vacation! We ended up ordering about half the menu, and every single thing was amazing. The absolute highlights were the ahi tuna and bone marrow appetizers, as well as the lamb shank and short rib main course--do not miss those! On top of the phenomenal food, it is a great place to bring kids. The entire staff was wonderful, but our waitress, Paige, went completely above and beyond. She was so kind and even brought out a blanket for my child who had fallen asleep at the table. Exceptional food and heartwarming service. We will definitely be back! read more

Ahh not our cup of tea. Looking for local food.. this is not it. This is tourist spot and not really what we were looking for. Loco moco plate was piping hot and I must say the food was warm.. what's the point?! I don't know and server didn't know. Chefs chicken sandwich, good but was better with rice! View was great outside! read more

Thoughtfully constructed delicious appetizers tasty entrees. A symphony of taste. A harmony for the palate. This restaurant is a fantastic addition to the gallery of special eateries in and around Kealakekua neighborhood. I really enjoyed the local fish, beet salad and panna cotta. It is recommended to make reservations to ensure you get a table. read more

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Have been to this place quite a few times. Pretty much tried most of the dishes. A nice fine restaurant with decent prices and very good customer service. Atmosphere, presentation are excellent. And their banana dessert show is quite interesting. My favorite dish was a lobster noodles and the steak, which was pretty pricey $69, but it was well worth it. The other main dishes are ok and on a small size side, which I wouldn't mind... if they were spectacular like that steak. Definitely will be back. read more

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Oh my goodness what a wonderful place. I found it by accident and I had the best eggs Benedict. I've had in a very long time But the real thing about this exceptionally good restaurant is that the service is exceptional as are all of the little details. They didn't miss a trick. I highly recommend this restaurant and their staff. Thank you for a wonderful find. I'm actually heading back this weekend. I've been dreaming about the eggs Benedict. read more

Who would expect to find a French trained, Michelin award winning chef in little Captain Cook, Hawaii? We decided to eat early and catch a bit of sunset. Hannah, our server, was delightful and we've made a reservation so we can enjoy her service again. The cocktails are strong A+ We had the bruschetta with garlic, miso spread and a shrimp flatbread with mole. Both were top notch. I had the glazed lamb shank with coconut rice and carrot curry. A++ It was absolutely perfect. My husband had the short ribs. He said it was one of the best short rib dinners he has had. Dessert was banana foster flamed table side and I had a cocktail called The Curtain Call. For those who appreciate tequila and mezcal, this was amazingly smooth. There is a theatre next door, thus the name, so on nights with plays happening make reservations. If you are staying in Kailua-Kona make the trip up the hill! Servings were nice size and I felt the prices were very reasonable compared to some of the restaurants near the water. We had 3 cocktails, 3 appetizers, 2 entrees and dessert and it was just a bit over $200 with 25% tip. Just GO! And then, GO again! read more

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Best meal ever! Still thinking about it! Those bone marrow oxtails will forever haunt me! LOVED every bite of EVERYTHING! read more

10/10 recommend. I wish I got our servers name but she was the best. Food came out in a timely manner and was delicious. The ambience and the whole experience was well worth it. read more

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We came here on the unconditional recommendation of our B&B hosts at the wonderful Kane Plantation. Best food in the region. Super high quality, sophisticated. Also a stellar custom cocktail menu. Great service. THE place for fine dining if you're in the vicinity (south of Kailua-Kona). Outdoor deck seating available; entire "indoors" is open to the deck and is quirky and delightful read more

The perfect end to our vacation in the big island! Everything was delicious and the view was spectacular. read more

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Hands down the best restaurant on the Big Island. 100% Quality. 100% Beautiful Dishes. 100% Taste. The chef is amazing! He is extremely talented, thoughtful and creative when building his menu. His flavor profiles are unreal. I recommend this restaurant to everyone I come across. Last night, my husband and I did the chef's tasting menu (with the wine pairing) and it was possibly the best dinner experience I had in Hawaii. The chef serves you every dish and explains every dish in detail. You can't sleep on this restaurant!!! read more

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We found this restaurant through our Puna chocolate and coffee farm tour next door as our host Hannah had recommended we visit The Theatery for dinner . WOW! Everything was truly wonderful about this restaurant I cannot say enough about it . The food was delicious and reasonably priced . We had the prefixed 3 course menu , I had the curry soup , Salmon followed by the Chocolate Panna Cotta for dessert, while my boyfriend got the same except Braised Shortrib for the entree . We were seated on an outdoor covered terrace overlooking the water. The service was exceptional as our waiter John was attentive and knowledgeable about all the food served.. Truly the highlight of our visit to Kona, I highly recommend visiting this restaurant . You won't be disappointed! read more

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Super fun, great food, awesome staff! I wish we could have gone on a night when they were offering dinner and a movie.

Went to the Theatery to the first time this past weekend and I gotta say they did a fantastic job with setting up on the side of the old theater. Coming here brought back the nostalgia from the old aloha theater restaurant that was on the other side many years ago. For drinks we had a lychee martini and an old fashion and watched the sunset then ordered our food we had the salad bouquet, bone marrow with toast, Mole flatbread and for our mains I had the short ribs with pomme puree and my girlfriend had the salmon. Almost forgot to mention the side of frites with bernaise! All the food was awesome and worth coming back for. My favorite thing oddly was the frites with bernaise 11/10 I would go there just for those and a coctail! Then to top it all off there was a table side bananas foster made with the flambee that gets the whole restaurant to look over their shoulder. All in all it's an awesome place for a date night and I'm looking forward to returning read more

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Nice atmosphere. Has Happy Hour at the bar. Came here for an early dinner. For Act I (appetizer) enjoyed Focaccia and Shrimp Wonton soup. For Act II (main meal) enjoyed the special beef filet with lobster sauce. Kids would like the pasta dish. It's an open area so there is an indoor and outdoor. There is a good amount of parking in the lot but also has street parking. Got here for an early dinner 4pm on Saturday. No one else here so it was nice to have the restaurant to ourselves (party of 6). Our server was exceptional as well. We made reservations but I think walk ins are accepted as well. Definitely would come back and recommend. Oh and there is a coffee shop right next door - Hale Cocoa. read more

Man, what can I say? This place is so good... We love the vibe here and the food never disappoints. They change the menu almost daily, which keeps it interesting, and the service is always impeccable. read more

I'm a mainlander foodie who lucked into dinner at Theatery with its Michelin star chef run team, comfortable ambiance, top notch serving staff, and prominent theatre patron clientele. It adjoins an active playhouse & overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The restaurant is a few miles south of Hilo & away from the busiest Hilo area eateries & cruise line docks. The staff were reassuring and accommodated our modest time constraints. Each dish was everything but ordinary. Offerings were extraordinarily well executed, integrating complex flavors with balance and seasoning. And tasted great! There are better choices to pursue if you primarily want fast/filling food and quality is an afterthought. Quality of food at this $$$ restaurant far exceeds most $$$$ competitors. Ingredients were fresh & top quality. The lamb shank was the best lamb I've had in my 70 years. Ditto for the crab salad, cold mango soup (consommé), and the to-kill-for ahi appetizer. read more

Nice rustic location. Our wait help was attentive. The food was so good we will definitely be back. I had lamb shank, it just melted off the bone so savory. My husband and I shared the ahi pounder for appetizer and he had the special a filet Mignon perfectly cooked read more

The Theatery - Lamb shank - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

The Theatery is a charming new restaurant located right next door to the Aloha Theater in the small town of Kainaliu. It has a beautiful ocean view from their outdoor lanai. The staff is great. From the initial greeting from the hostess, the great server we had, and a friendly check in from the manager, we felt well taken care of. The food however needs a little fine tuning. The chef seems to have a sweet tooth and likes adding sweet components to pretty much every dish. I was very thrown off by the pineapple in the mushroom soup. I just couldn't wrap my head around it and did not enjoy it. The pork strip loin was good, but was served overcooked. The kanpachi was cooked perfectly and I loved the gnocchi, but the sauce seems more fitting for red meat and didn't go well with the fish. The short rib was cooked well, nice and tender, with a beautiful pom puree. But the cuisson sauce was oddly too sweet and missing the typical umami goodness I was hoping for. The beet salad was probably one of the best I've tried with the truffle vinaigrette. The poke was also good. It's a different presentation from what you find around town with the black tahini, and I really liked it. The bone marrow had something sweet incorporated in the sauce and I wished they'd just kept it simple. The kung pao salad was also good. It reminded me of the flavors of a green papaya salad. And the cocktails were solid. Whoever is managing the bar knows what they're doing. Overall a good experience and I will give it a couple of weeks before going back. I do hope the kitchen corrects some of the dishes. There's a lot of promise. read more

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Probably the best food on the island. And the service is also high-level. In a day and age where it's almost impossible to find even decent service on the big island. These guys tun a very very professional operation. The chef has a first class résumé and is bringing first class product and preparations to the big island. The chocolate shop and its five related chocolate crops around the island are part of this operation and the team who who owns and manages all this is deserving of high commendation. Bravo! read more

We had reservations and were seated promptly on the lanai which had great views. Very happy with our service. Great knowledge of the menu and recommendations. We went in knowing we wanted to try the lobster shepherds pie special and the swordfish. Act 1 started off with the bone marrow with oxtail marmalade which was very tasty. We tried the Antagonist gin cocktail and the Main Character which is a very nice old fashioned. Our act 2 mains arrived shortly after. My husband's swordfish dish was very tasty and cooked perfectly. My lobster shepherds pie had fantastic flavor with the best pomme purée potatoes I have had to date. The lobster bisque base was outstanding. I would love a bowl of just that. Many mahalos to our servers who recommend adding a side of focaccia as it was perfect for the sauce in both dishes. The only thing in the shepherds pie missing was lobster meat. Being as we were some of the first customers in maybe it got left out in the serving? Still tasted amazing and would order again. Act 3 we shared the Irish cream topped chocolate panna cotta and it was delicious. Highly recommend and we will definitely be repeat customers. Thankful to have this in our community it is a delightful addition. read more

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